Chapter 29: Moonlight and Roses

“Cocky!” Dante sneered as he led Blake into a room above the railing. “You kill a man and suddenly think you have what it takes to call yourself an Alpha?” Blake looked at him surprised and it only made the smirk on Dante’s face grow more. “Oh yeah I know. I could smell it on you before you even stepped inside. Who was it? A poor, defenseless bum you had to pick from between your teeth? Or a fragile little coed on her way home from the library? It couldn’t have been anyone fight worthy because I doubt you’d be left standing.”

“I didn’t come here to listen to you talk Dante. I came here to watch you bleed!”

“No. You came because you fear what you might do to her. Have any interesting dreams lately Blake?” Dante smirked again at the shock on Blake’s face as he moved closer. The fear in his eyes said it all.

“What do you know about my dreams?”

“I know that for all wolves there comes a time in his life when he must decide what is most important, power or love. For some it’s an easy choice for others it proves a daunting task. Love is a fleeting emotion that weakens the most notable of men. I’d tell you to ask your father but he chose a different route.”

Blake turned with another hardened gaze towards Dante whose wicked laugh filled his ears as he circled around him. “What are you saying?”

“What? You mean Angelo never told you? All the time you spent with him and the subject never once came up? Priceless. The man up and leaves his wife with a newborn kid and doesn’t even bother to send a postcard when he lands.”

“Angelo’s my…why didn’t he say anything?” Blake muttered beneath his breath as the Alpha continued circling around him seemingly enjoying the utter confusion and rampant chaos set off in Blake’s head. He came to a stop just behind him and Blake quickly turned to face the man. “Doesn’t matter. I came here for a reason and I’m not leaving until you’re dead.”

Dante laughed a throaty and boisterous bellow and took one step away from the overly determined wolf standing in front of him. “All that’s between us is space and opportunity whelp! If you think you have what it takes SHOW ME!” he growled and readied himself for Blake’s attack. A riotous call went over the crowd around them as the wolves of Dante’s pack began chanting and cheering for the two men to do battle.

Blake roared and took a step forward, “NO!” A single voice shattered the unruly clamoring. Slowly Angelo stepped out from behind the shadows of the doorway he stood in and moved a bit closer to the two men. “You will not drag him into an unsanctioned brawl like you did me Dante. If you want to fight you do it by the Trial of Ascension!”

“The trial of what?” Blake asked as the crowd gathered down below. Angelo took a backseat to the other wolves, slowly disappearing through the mob and heading towards the door as Dante took it upon himself to explain the rules of war.

“You don’t know this one?” he asked with a grin. “It’s called the Trial of Ascension. Two wolves enter into a ring of fire; one walks out as Alpha the other one does not. The kicker though, the loser gets to feed the rest of these hungry hounds,” he laughed wickedly as Blake’s eyes opened in recognition to his words. “The best part though, the loser is still alive while they feed.”

“Of course. Nothing brings a pack closer together than dining on their enemy after a bloody battle,” Blake mocked.

“You can’t be here!” Angelo warned as he found Natalie sneaking around the front and yanked her away from the door, pulling her towards the back of the building. “It’s too dangerous for you here, what the hell were you thinking?”

“Blake’s in trouble! He needs my help.”

“And just what do you intend to do against a room full of wolves, feed them? Because outside of a quick meal there’s nothing else you have to offer any of them!”

“I don’t…I don’t know. He could die!”

“Yes and so could you. Look, I understand you want to help but you have to know that what Blake is doing now is not something you should involve yourself with. But from the look in your eyes I can tell everything I’m saying to you is not getting through to you is it?” Natalie sighed and crossed her arms into her chest, giving the defiant pose as her answer. “Fine then come with me; I could use your help tying the rope to the rafters.”

Natalie followed Angelo up a ladder that led onto the roof. From there the two entered the upstairs of the building through a broken window and headed inside the empty office. “Ok we have a great vantage point here. Toss me that rope over there.”

“This rope right here?” Natalie asked as she turned to reach for it and heard the door slam shut behind her. “Angelo? What are you doing?”

“What I have to; what you won’t and that’s keeping you safe and out of Blake’s way. I’m sorry Natalie but he can’t be distracted right now. You have no idea what is going on at this very moment. It  could get you, me and him killed. Now you seem like a really resourceful young lady so I have no doubt you’ll figure a way out of there so if you do, my advice is this: when next you’re around the wolf, show no fear.”

“ANGELO!”

“Oh right and try to make as less noise as possible. Wolves have extra sharp hearing as is!” Angelo grabbed his bag and hurried back through the window, placing a loose board against it before he climbed down the ladder. Quickly he made his way across the lot towards the main building and heard hooting and howling as he drew nearer. 

Taking a peek into one of the dusty factory windows he could make out a slew of wolves, some in form and some not. All of them were standing around a large circle being drawn in thick, black oil around Blake and Dante. “Oh no,” he muttered to himself as he realized the Trial of Ascension was about to begin. There wasn’t much time left. Soon the oil would be lit and someone was going to walk away the victor while the other would become food for the pack.

Blake and Dante took their positions on opposite sides of the ring. One of the wolves pulled a lighter from his pocket and knelt down to the oil, preparing to light it. “Last chance to back out of this before it’s too late,” Dante offered and watched Blake shake his hands before glancing over at the wolf near his feet.

“Light the damn thing already!” Fire swept across the floor around the two and the wolves of Dante’s pack took front row seats around them. Once the stage was set, Dante howled in excitement and snarled towards the younger wolf.

Instantly the two collided headlong in the center of the ring. Claws raked against claws sending sparks flying from the tips of their fingers as each man slashed at the other. Their rapidly changing bodies grew furrier by the second. Dante’s brooding form appeared heavier and more powerful than that of his opponent, a fact he would use to his advantage. His elongated jaw and larger teeth snapped at Blake’s arm and he hastily pulled back to keep from getting bit.

After the initial clash, the wolves backed away both dropping low to the ground, growling viscously, before they began circling one another. Dante was the first to charge, tackling Blake towards the outer barrier of the ring of fire. Dante’s overpowering strength took Blake by surprise and he howled in pain when his paw touched the flames. Pushing his entire weight into a block, he backed Dante off knocking him slightly off balance.

Quickly regaining his poise, Dante fell onto his back and Blake instantly attacked. Gaining the advantage he went for his neck, clawing at him ferociously but Dante dodge the assault, throwing the younger wolf back. The men collected themselves and scurried to their feet, Dante immediately going in for the hit.

The first punch glanced Blake’s chin but the second punch doubled him over, expelling the last bit of captured air from his gut. Outside of having the wind knocked from him, Blake noticed a fair amount of pain from the shot to the belly. He stood straight up, eyes bulging with rage as he stared at Dante and the twisted smirk on his face. Goading him forward, he crooked a finger in Blake’s direction drawing him from the edge of the ring.

Blake went in for a shot but Dante swiftly shoved him off. He covered the distance between them in one easy stride landing three more punches and Blake fell. Getting to his feet he charged at Dante quickly moving his hands. A shot to the face, followed by one to the kidney and Dante was unable to scramble out of the way.

Smack. The sound of Dante’s teeth making unnatural contact resounded in the large room and it was Dante’s turn to howl. “Enough of this!” his voice rumbled from his throat like thunder. He sped forward, moving like lightning delivering an elbow strike to Blake’s midsection. He toppled over, just then Dante grabbed him up by the throat.

“You see whelp, experience wins over youth.” The sharp end of his long talons molded around Blake’s neck, slicing narrow papercuts into his skin. Blake could smell the stench on Dante’s breath; human flesh but it wasn’t fresh. Being this close to his mouth was like choking on poison; his skin crawled with the wretched smell of rot. “You know why you can never beat me? Because you don’t want it bad enough! But don’t worry; I’ll send your bitch my best.”

A single deafening roar ripped from Blake’s throat and he shocked Dante with a heart-stopping knee to the jaw that sent the aged wolf toppling backwards. Pain exploded against the side of his head as he staggered, seeing stars. A small cut formed just above his right eye and he blinked to remove the blood out of his eyes.

Standing just a foot away Blake could smell the blood dripping from Dante’s wound and a smile curved his lip. Dante’s face was clenched into a nerving fury, baring his teeth with a ravenous hunger. Blake ran at him, gripping him in a bear hug as he hurtled their bodies out of the flames and through the concrete wall. The two landed on the rose bushes outside. A flurry of action started behind them as the group of wolves changed positions, moving to a safer distance as the fight spilled out of the circle. 

Puffs of their warm breath became visible in the cold night air. Blake could feel his eyes narrow and his adrenaline surge as he took a lurching step forward. He threw a haymaker that Dante swung under hitting Blake instead with an uppercut. Natalie entered the room, eyes wide in shock as she noticed the gaping hole in the wall.

Rushing forward she hurried through the crack just in time to see Dante deliver a punishing body shot to Blake’s ribs that sent ripples of pain through his torso. Bringing his right hand up, he struck Blake in the neck just over his jugular hard enough to leave him gasping for air and Blake fought a groan.

A final swipe carved a jagged, bloody furrow deep into Blake’s throat. Blake stumbled back, stunned and afraid as a mouthful of blood bubbled out of his lips. He was conscious up until the second he hit the ground.

“BLAKE!” Natalie yelled as she watched his body fall lifelessly to the cement below. Rain pounded harder, splashing the surrounding wolves with water and pelting Blake’s serene face as he lay in the dirt before them. Blood diluted on the ground beside him and Natalie rushed forward, arms outstretched as she moved. “Blake? Blake wake up please!” she begged and shook his limp body against her chest.

More blood poured from his wound as the rest of the pack took a step back from the scene. The most sadistic grin spread across Dante’s lips as he stood erect, looking over Blake completely delighted with himself. It was happening and he could feel it. The gain of absolute power he felt was owed to him for the years he was overlooked by his previous Alpha and that of other packs that never saw him as equal. It was like a drug surging through his veins. He could feel it take him over and welcomed it with an arrogant bout of laughter. “He was warned,” Dante snarled and started towards Natalie.

“Blake please, don’t do this,” she cried harder, hearing the Alpha’s footfall through the drumming rain. “Please, I love you.” One tear fell from her eye and rolled over Blake’s cheek. He flinched! It was slight in its movements but enough for her to take notice. “Blake?” she called again but to no avail. And suddenly a thought occurred to her. Something she overheard Angelo telling Nick only the blood of pure love can save him.

Spreading his lips, Natalie placed her wrist between Blake’s fangs and held her breath as she roughly pulled her arm across his teeth, splitting the skin. Blood poured into Blake’s mouth, slipping gradually down his throat. His face twitched and his eyes snapped open. But they weren’t their normal olive green. Instead they had turned into an intense, bright red that made Natalie gasp but she held firm beside him.

Tenderly her hand grazed his fluffy cheek and he reached up to feel the softness of her skin. “You came back to me,” she smiled, another tear making a shaky trail down her face.

“Always,” he replied, his throat sore from the effort of speaking even a single word. Looking up into her eyes was the second wind he needed.

He bolted upright, blazing a trail directly at Dante. The Alpha was on his back beneath Blake before he even realized what was happening. Long, sharp canines tore through Dante’s neck and he gurgled deep in his throat, drowning in his own blood. Snarling, scratching, slashing, scraping Blake shredded through flesh until Dante’s head was completely severed from his body and the two rested in a massive puddle of red. 

Pulling up from the ground, he stood over Dante’s body gripping his side. The taste of Natalie’s blood burned on his tongue as his fur glistened beneath the bright moonlight. He turned to find her smiling at him and slowly sauntered towards her. Taking his first step in her direction, his head started to spin and he slumped in a heap to the ground. “BLAKE!” Natalie rushed over and cradled his head in her lap. “Blake!”

“Hey,” he smiled and touched her hand. “You’re safe now. I did what I set out to do Natalie.”

“No Blake. This isn’t what I wanted, not like this. Why would you think I’d want this? You’re hurt!”

“It’s ok Natalie, I promise. I feel no pain.” Blood spilled from his various wounds and he winced as she moved him slightly in her lap, her hands running through his hair. Tears fell from her eyes, dripping onto his face and he reached up to wipe them away. “Don’t do that.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just…seeing you like this, that fight…I was so scared,” she trembled as she held him, her entire body quaking with emotion.

“I know. But it’s all over now. You don’t have to be scared anymore.”

“We have to get you home.”

“No. Don’t move me,” Blake begged as the thought caused him pain. “Just let me lay here a little while longer.”

“So stubborn.”

“Look who’s talking,” Blake joked and Natalie sniveled as she tried to smile down at him. 

“We can stay. I’ll stay beside you until you heal and everything will be fine you’ll see.”

“Not this time Natalie.”

“Don’t talk like that! Angelo will get you back to his place and you’ll be as good as new like before. Then we can be together.”

“That’s all I want; that’s all I’ve ever wanted,” he smiled weakly as she continued caressing his hair. “Angelo and Nick will take good care of you I’ve already made the arrangements.”

“Blake, no! I don’t want you to go! What we have is only the beginning,” she sobbed uncontrollably. “Please. Just stay, say you’ll stay with me.” Her warm tears flooded her eyes, blurring her vision as she stared down at her lycan lover slowly converting to human form once more.

A single rose blew towards them as the wind howled furiously. Blake noticed and picked it up, pressing it carefully into Natalie’s hand. “I love you Natalie, always and forever.”

“I love you too Blake.” A lone tear escaped Blake’s eye as his head lolled in Natalie’s lap and his eyes finally shut tight.

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